Commissioner Cribbins RebuttalIt seems Commissioner Cribbins has short memory loss, not the voter.What Ms. Cribbins conveniently forgot to mention is that the BOC also placed a measure on the same ballot as measure 6-144. This measure was written by politicians for politicians, to create an unelected position of “County Administrator” to serve as a scapegoat for the BOC. This measure, 6-144 also failed.Measure 6-149 was written by citizens and expressly for the citizens of Coos County. It is unlike any other charter in the state. It expresses how they wished to be governed and what is expected of those elected to govern.It also provides “term limits”. It provides for penalties when elected officials fail to follow the rules. Politicians hate being the governed and having to follow rules of law like regular citizens.The BOC is receiving guidance from the Hatfield School of Governance, aka Portland Law School, on how to “govern” the citizens of Coos County.We, the taxpayers are paying for this advice. This NGO (non-governmental organization) continues to recommend a County Administrator and “just call it another name like “County Manager.”Currently the BOC holds “work sessions” were decisions are made and votes taken. Citizens are allowed to observe these work sessions.The problem is in the meeting notice does not provide enough detail of the agenda item to do advance research.A summary / report of these work sessions are never provided at the BOC meeting or in the minutes. A rubber stamp vote is taken at the official BOC meeting. Currently, no commissioner must state their position on any matter before the commission. The citizens of Coos County are left to wonder just who represents their view. The reason for five commissioners was decided upon, by a committee of citizens, was put a stop to the normal 2 to 1 vote of the commissioners.If there is an item that affects the entire county and four commissioners cannot agree, then they need readdress the issue to the benefit of all citizens of the county and not just the “special interest”. The county should already have a maintenance department to create and administrate a maintenance plan. Recently there was an article in the newspaper that the county was working with other counties to bulk purchase supplies, no new person needed.Respectfully,Theo Stanley, Bandon

Subject: Letter to the EditorVote yes, ballot measure 6-149, “Voice of the Voters” Home Rule Charter. “The future of this Republic is in the hands of the American voter.” Dwight David “ike” Eisenhower.

WOW! Voters, stopped voting, and leaves government operations to career politicians and Bureaucrats.

Now Voters are involved by: voting, running for office, paying taxes, political contributions, appointed to be on committees, commissions, and boards, and receiving tax dollars by partnering with government.

But, to be part of the decision process in spending the tax dollars through a voting process, no, you are too dumb, or stupid, probably only fitting into one or two of the above involved activities, paying taxes, and making a contribution.

Thus, Coos County Home Rule Charter is a threat to the intrenched influence receiver and peddlers, it will involve the voters through voting on how much and where, but, not all, of your tax dollars will be use in the County.

Yup, that is a dumb and stupid idea to include the voters in how tax dollars will be spent. Vote yes, ballot measure 6-149, “Voice of the Voters” Home Rule Charter.

Dear Editor – There is no Season like Political Season to bring out the Chicken Littles among us. If every sky fell that these cluckers say is going to fall, we'd be in darkness. But we're not. Life goes on. And yes, the sun will rise in the East on November Fifth, regardless. So, just what is it the Naysayers and Natterers are saying about this “Voice of the Voters” Coos County Home Rule Charter? Plenty! And they've got it all wrong. (Again.) Let's start with, The Charter creates nine new positions! How will we pay for them and all their perks! Well, let's see. The Veteran's officer already exists. So does the Human Resource Director. Likewise, the two wildlife services officers, and the Forestry guy. The Maintenance Chief and the Procurement person can be designated from existing staff. That leaves us with two: The two new commissioners that will be elected next May. Two new commissioners are one of the featured highlights of this Home Rule Charter. It brings the total of commissioners to five with four being required to vote “AYE” for an issue to pass. This is a tremendous protection for the voters: no more two people passing rules that impact 63,000 citizens! Let's continue with, We're going to have to vote every day! Every week! ...Every morning, the Red Button or the Green Button! Cluck, cluck... The State sets up four voting days a year: March, May, September, and November. Surely any qualified commissioner could preplan sufficiently to place any needed ballots on the calendar for one of those dates? There is no need whatsoever for any special ballots, not if commissioners are competent. Here's some more. It's going to hogtie the county government! It's going to slow down county government! Yes, they've grasped it, however dimly. That is one of the chief goals of the Charter, to slow things down to a point that the voters get a chance to see what is actually going on behind all those closed doors. This is a very good thing. It will result in some very enlightened votes by the people. Are you ready for this one? The administrative costs may be... millions! The reference here is to the costs of putting information on the county web site and making available copies of certain ordinances and documents in the county commissioners' office. How much does each keystroke cost, anyway? This information should already be available; it shouldn't take this Charter to make it available to you. This one is fun! The meetings will last six hours! The meetings will last two days! What they are going on about is the requirement that you be allowed to speak at county meetings, be allowed to ask questions of your commissioners on any issues before them, before they vote. Imagine that! You get to be part of the proceedings. And yes, the first couple meetings might be long. We have suggested to the commissioners that they provide snacks. We were greeted with stony silence. And this is probably the corker of them all. Why not three to vote in something? Why four? You'll never get four to agree to anything! This “four” is in place to protect the voters. If four people cannot agree on an issue that is to impact 63,000 then they can just take it back to the drawing board. This is not a difficult concept... The Naysayers don't want this Home Rule Charter because it upends certain perks and privileges, disturbs the Status Quo. Yes it does. And this is a good thing.Jaye Belle

It is time for Coos County citizens to take control and stop the giving away and selling cheaply of our assets.

It is time for the citizens to stop allowing the giving control of our assets and property tax monies to the control of private organizations and unelected paid Administrators.

It is time the citizens stop their elected officials from sitting idly by (sometimes assisting) while the state and federal agencies take control of Coos County land, thus not only taking the land off our tax rolls but additionally removing farmers/ranchers and their employees from their rightful earnings and community buying power.

It is time the citizens take control and stop the giving of our monies to state and federal buildings and causes. Keep the money and control in this community.

It is time the citizens take control and stop the use of our monies to try and correct state and federal ill conceived failed programs which should not have been allowed in the first place.

It is time the citizens take control and demand to be informed AND asked what they want before their elected officials enact programs/legislation/land use changes/sell major assets/indebt the citizens/ give special considerations to special interest groups/ give financial benefits to some businesses but not others/.....the list goes on.

Take Control....Vote YES on the Home Rule Charter. YES on Measure 6-149.

Dear Editor,Why Do Coos County Citizens Need and Deserve 'This' "Voice Of The Voters" Home Rule Charter?This Great Nation was built on a Constitutional Republic form of government.This means we were given a government where we ELECT our REPRESENTATIVES and they have CHECKS and BALANCES.Our federal and state governments both have three parts to provide representation and checks and balances: a House and Senate, a President or Governor, and the Judiciary branch. Additionally we have federal and state Constitutions which give rather specific guide lines and limits to the power of the government to dominate and control the citizens. Also there is generally some national and/or state coverage on TV, radio, in multiple newspapers, on talk shows, etc.At present Coos County is a 'General Law County' with three elected Commissioners. This means your commissioners can, with an 'aye' vote of only two people control the county funds, indebtedness, selling and buying of assets, increase their salaries, delegate their authority, etc. The only limit of their power over the county ( not cities ) is if there happens to be a specific ORS (Oregon Revised Statute ) regulating the issue. There are practically no checks and balances or reviews and very little required notification of their actions, before or after, to the citizens.With this complete power over county issues they have additionally put forth rules allowing themselves to vote on issues outside of standard Board of Commissioners meetings, plus set rules which deny citizens the right to ask questions or make comments on most issues.Coos County deserves and needs this non-partisan “Voice of the Voters” Home Rule Charter (Constitution) which gives the citizens control over major expenditures not included in the budget (remember $165,000 X 3 = almost a half a million dollars) , county land use changes, selling and giving away your county assets, etc, etc.Regardless of your view point, it gives all citizens the right to vote on these issues and more.Read this “Voice of the Voters” Home Rule Charter...... Then PUT IT IN WRITING!Vote Yes on ballot measure 6-149!Thank You,Jaye BellCoquille, Oregon 97423

Home Rule Response The following is in response to the article in “The World” on 9/20/14 regarding “Home Rule”. Most citizens of Coos County are too busy with their normal lives and are unable to attend commission meeting. Those that do make time are now labeled “the noisemakers” by Mr. Barton. These “noisemakers” are citizens expressing their constitutional rights to express their opinion on how they are governed and how the County manages it assets. It is “noise” because no one is respectful enough to listen to individuals that take the time to get involved and express an opinion. “The ultimate objective was to get a professional administrator to run the day-to-day affairs of the county because the commissioners are, first of all, not well-qualified to administer a government of that size and complexity,” Barton said. I find it strange how these unqualified elected officials are qualified to hire a professional administrator that is not responsible to the citizens of the County. This same professional administrator would hire all individuals currently elected except for the Sheriff and Commissioners. He would also have “golden parachute” attached to his employment contract. “I think home rule is a good thing,” said Commissioner Melissa Cribbins. “It reflects the individual characteristics of a county. But I’m concerned in this case that it’s small groups of people with individual interests.” The charter’s specificity also makes Commissioner John Sweet think it’s geared toward individual interests, rather than countywide needs. Mr. Sweet also claims “it’s attempt to undermine the concept of representative government.” I say just the opposite is true. It requires that our elected representatives be responsible and responsive to the citizens that elect them. I challenge anyone to find any item in the charter that would benefit any one special interest group. There are no “special interest” groups funding this issue. It is strictly a “grass roots” movement. How Herne and Bell are doing it, by putting it to the voters is the only method that private citizens can address the issue under state law. “The current board of commissioners has repeatedly denied Herne and Bell’s requests to consider their charter specifically.” .“Voice of the Voters” is the only avenue citizens have to give guidance to the commissioners on how they (the citizens) are to be governed. Respectfully, a Coos County Concerned Citizen, Theo Stanley, PO Box 307 Bandon.OR

Letter to EditorJon Barton, provides, excellent overview. Americans for Responsive, Responsible Government (ARRRG), through petition process, placed on the ballot measure 6-149, The Home Rule Charter.Jon’s theme, the Charter ties the hands of, “hamstrung with requirements”, government, and restricts quick action. Jon is correct, the Charter takes away the politicians Rubber Stamp. And does not allow a delegation of Authority, such as a County Administrator.I certainly agree with Jon, the Commissioners will be severely restricted by having to disclose time spent on the job, expenses claimed and detailed records open to the public. Four out of five agreed votes will be necessary to approve the agenda or stop it. And, worst, Commissioners can be held responsible and liable for not following the Charter, and be fined. What is this world coming to?Of course, transparency issue just flies out the window, so many restrictions in requiring a public vote to move forward, government will slow to a crawl. Just think the public will have to vote on: Contracts, expenditures over $165,000.00, indebtedness exceeding $5,000.00, disposing of assets over $25,000.00, land use issues, Urban Renewal Agency issues, Enterprise Zone consents, Nuisances ordinance, change to Veteran’s Office location, Elected officials salaries and cost of living, non-union. Yes gridlock and slow down could result.More restriction, documents provided to the public without cost, can,t participate in “green” organizations, and then, changing, modify, or repeal the Charter, just as much time and work would have to go into that process, as has now taken to put it on the ballot. Yes, I am agreeing with Jon, this Charter is a restrictive, slowing down process. But, creating transparency, resulting in accountability, liability, and responsibility from our County Government. And thus, involvement of the voters of Coos County, are you up to the task?Denny Powell

“The time has come,” the walrus said, “to talk of many things”

We’ve had a long and pleasant reprieve but it appears, unfortunately, that the mathematically challenged Jon Barton has regained his mojo. The Walrus is once again weighing in and sharing his regressive views in the local paper regurgitating industry talking points on fossil-fuel development and now blathering on about county governance. Barton has offered us his “learned” critique of the proposed home rule charter based upon his brief tenure as a member of the structure advisory committee . He was only appointed to the committee by the county commission because he shared the board’s majority view of converting county governance over to a hired administrator. It’s ironic that Barton’s criticisms of the charter, if one were just to substitute the titles, are almost identical to public criticism of his recommendation at the time. Namely: BARTON – “It is idealistically crafted with little regard to the practicalities of managing an organization of the size and complexity as Coos County.” The public rightly recognized that the structure advisory committee was formed with one predetermined yet undisclosed goal of hiring a county administrator without any regard to practicalities and complexities. Barton, like the other appointed members rarely attended a board meeting prior to the formation of the committee, except to ask for money for SCDC and has rarely attended since.BARTON – “Proponents say the Charter would reduce costs but other than offering up eliminating commissioner credit cards and requiring public bidding for goods and services (already practiced and required by state law) they offer little to substantiate their claim.” Once again the public, or “noisemakers” as Barton calls them, demanded evidence that hiring an administrator “would save the county millions.” Sigh, despite enthusiastic attestations from proponents of the “administrator model” none were able to actually provide substantive evidence of why they themselves were so convinced hiring an administrator would magically improve the county. In another bit of irony, the paper reports that Melissa Cribbins supports the possibility of a home rule charter but has reservations about the one on this November’s ballot. CRIBBINS – “I think home rule is a good thing. It reflects the individual characteristics of a county. But I am concerned in this case that it’s small groups of people with individual interests.” Wow! Just swap “home rule” with the words “community enhancement plan” and Cribbins could actually be a member of the public voicing concern about the CEP.“The time has come,” the Walrus said, “To talk of many things: Of shoes–and ships–and sealing-wax– Of cabbages–and kings– And why the sea is boiling hot– And whether pigs have wings.” The Walrus and the Carpenter by Lewis Carroll (just before eating the poor, duped Oysters)

To the Editor of The Coos County Watchdog “We the People” is the way the preamble to our Constitution starts. I always liked the sound of that, but where have “We the People” gone? Some no longer vote or consider the need to participate in any way. Only a Few will become candidates to serve in political positions. The design of the Founders was for volunteer service. Volunteer service requires that we maintain awareness and have interest in the affairs of government. It is also a way to keep government within reasonable bounds. The best opportunity to serve in government is local or city and the next best is your County government. Thanks to two Coos County residents, who want to enhance a “We the People” Governing of Coos County, a new charter has been developed. The aim of the Charter is to put people in control. Voter approval would be required for; 1) Capitol programs, 2) All bonded indebtedness, 3) The gifting of Public funds, 4) The granting of property tax exemptions; and more. Voter approval would be required for Urban Renewal. Accountability for use of Urban Renewal funds will require public presentation on a County website with full disclosure of the disbursement of Urban Renewal funds Budgeting will be zero based, which means that they will be based on the cost of service delivery for the coming period. Voters in Coos County should get well acquainted with this Home Rule Proposal in order to make an informed decision on it. It is much better than I had expected. If approved by the voters, Coos County could become a destination for new investment. People who want to have more control over their lives will consider establishing themselves in Coos County. Coos County could become the envy of the Nation by shining daylight on the operation of government. Sign me as consumed with envy in Douglas County! Merv Cloe Reedsport, OR

The petition signatures are filed with the clerk's office in Coquille! We should have our ballot measure number around August 20th.

We needed 1,521. We filed 2,353. That is 54.7% over.That should take care of that.....

We could use generous donations to ARRRG.

The Goliath opposition is gearing up for a full scale war.The bullies mean to defeat usbig time.And they are even discussing putting up their own Portland State-style charter. Similar to the charter defeated in May in Curry County, theirs would likely include an administrator (you voted that down in 2012 but they're still talking about one) and appointed county positions (ie, appointed Treasurer, appointed Clerk, etc).

On our side, we have the"Voice of the Voters"Coos County Home Rule Charter, written by Voters, for Voters.

The big guys can put up a "Portland Public Policies People's Protocol Program" kind of charter and you know who and what that would favor! And "they" don't need signatures, remember?

Help us help the Charter.Just three months to go! That's it.

Let's do some push back!

Donate today. Let's show them there are still real Americans who really care abouttheir freedoms, their county, and their country!

The plan plays a kind of financial shell game with the state, transforming property taxes into community service fees, then funneling them into private non-profits whose non-elected board members would have final say over how the cash is used.Backers of the plan say it will allow them to both accelerate and smooth the tidal wave of property tax revenues expected from the project. It will spread the wealth over a broader geographic area and create a long-term funding stream for schools and economic development.

Hey Folks,I just attended the first Town Hall that was scheduled by the Coos County Board of Commissioner to discuss The Community Enhancement Plan and Commissioners Cribbon's and Sweet's desire for the county becoming the fourth member of the South Coast Community Foundation. The SCCF is a taxing scheme developed to continue to siphon money from the state's State School Sharing Fund or the equalization program and funnel that money to huge private and public development projects. I had high praise for the way Commissioner Mellissa Cribbons conducted the county meeting on April 1, 2014, but the town hall in Bandon on the 9th was a sham.The commissioners had everyone break up into five different groups to answer five questions that were designed to return a predetermined answer that would always favor the project.There was over a dozen employees from Knife River Construction in attendance, if one was to go by the count of company vehicles that were in the parking lot. They have every right to attend, but their numbers makes the appearance dubious and casts a cloud of suspicion on the entire project. I think most of the rank and file employees are damn decent people who have the best of intentions. Lets hope the company is not using them in the same fashion that Oregon Resource Co. used their employees to manipulate the commissioners vote on the ORC contract. These people are the salt of the earth and do not deserve deception. In contrast, there was less than 10 people from the city of Bandon in attendance, and that was due to such a very short notification period for the meeting. It is evident that the tactic was intentional, so Sweet and Cribbons could say they had input from the people, when most of the people in Bandon had not a clue that this meeting was occurring. Nobody from the Bandon City Council was in attendance, which was a huge disappointment.Then, to the insult of eveiry taxpayer in the county, nobody from the Bandon School Board attended the meeting, which was all about getting more money to the county's dilapidated school districts. And they want our support, what a joke. It also demonstrates how the school board is going to treat the staff and teachers of their district, if the schools were to get this money under the SCCF plan. No Respect, to teachers, school staff, and most of all, us the taxpayers......The BOC has to Vote NO to the CEP and the SCCF or they better "Put it on the Ballot."Commissioner Sweet and Cribbons are going to push the CEP and the SCCF and the voters better be prepared to stop the creation of another political slush fund. It is the definition of crony capitalism, or more aptly put, economic fascism.....Rob T.

Watchdog Action Alert:

Hey Everyone,The Board of Commissioners will be having several Town Halls to discuss the creation of the South Coast Community Foundation. It appears that Commissioners Cribbons and Sweet are going to try to enact this new quasi private/public bureaucracy and we have to be prepared. Please attend the meetings and ask the commissioners to Vote No to joining the foundation. Tell them Vote NO or "PUT IT ON THE BALLOT,'....Rob T.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS250 N. Baxter Street, Coquille, Oregon97423(541) 396-7535FAX (541) 396-1010 /TDD (800) 735-2900E-Mail: bbrooks@co.coos.or.usMelissa CribbinsRobert “Bob” Main John SweetPRESS RELEASEThe Board of Commissioners has scheduled a series of Town Hall meetings in order to take public comment on the proposed South Coast Community Foundation. Meetings have been set as follows:

From a Lady Watchdog in Fairview:

Dear Editor --On Saturday, April 5th, 2014 The World ran a front page article titled "Important election coming in Curry Co." The article stated that a Curry County Home Rule Charter and one commissioner position will be on their May ballot.

Understand that this Curry County Charter in no way resembles the freedom-loving Coos County Home Rule Charter coming on the ballot this November.

Home Rule Charters are county constitutions. They can be amended. Each is individual. Let me compare some points between theirs and ours.

Our Charter clearly forbids the hiring of a County Manager. (Coos County voted down a County Manager in 2012.) On the other hand, Curry County's Charter mandates the hiring of an appointed, not elected, County Manager. These managers come with no accountability, big paychecks, golden parachutes, and, on average, three year terms before they move on.

This unelected, can't be-fired-by-the-people administrator is then directed by their Charter to appoint Curry County's Treasurer, Assessor, Surveyor, and Clerk. Yes, I said "appoint". Curry County voters are being asked to surrender their voting rights to the whims and dictates of an unelected person. True, it says the commissioners must approve these choices. However, if you don't vote them in, you can't vote them out. And if you don't have your vote, what do you have?

Coos County's Charter says all of the county officers will be elected, at large, as it should be. It makes them accountable to you.

And their County Commissioners will then number five, with no pay or benefits, a $10,000 stipend per year and these happy folks are supposed to review and approve the full time, full paid Administrator's unelected personnel choices.

On our side of the county line Our Charter will also have five commissioners, full paid, full time, and responsible for the full management and administration of the county, under clearly defined guidelines. Ours is called "Voice of the Voters". The good news is that the Curry County voters have wisely voted down notoriously bad propositions before. Clearly they should read the Charter and it might be interesting for them to discover who actually drafted it for them. My bet is it wasn't their Home Rule Charter Committee.

Hey Folks,The mosquito infestation caused by the USFWS's marsh restoration will have to be paid for by someone, and that someone is us taxpayers. Look at the chart below and you will see that Vector Abatement is the duty of the county. Look at the last item on the list In the middle column titled, Natural Resources and Recreation and you will see that it is the county, which will have to take care of the mosquito problem....Rob T.

From a watchdog in Fairview Oregon

Dear Editor, The real question is: Why are our commissioners and would-be County leaders rushing agreements, relieving Jordon Cove of 15-plus years property tax? The company has yet to acquire a building permit, prove it's reliability, or use it's initial property tax relief. If a company proposing plans of this magnitude is solid it should not need to take our money! Our commissioners are poised to approve Jordon Cove's tax relief based on verbal statements they will create 501(3)(c)'s, yearly giving millions to verbally stipulated beneficiaries chosen by themselves. Additionally, there would be no public oversight as their board selections, meetings, and financial decisions will all be private. (Individuals who lost their property due to unpaid property taxes wish they had such a deal.) Why rush giving Jordon Cove millions of dollars? Could Chapter 662 Oregon Law 2003 section 307.123, modified October 16th 2013, be of interest? The legislation allows property tax relief to be transferable. " ....upon the property being acquired by a business firm that is different from the business firm that initially benefitted from the exemption...." Section 9 of this legislation states "....A determination ... that a project shall be exempt from property taxation ...must be requested by official action of the governing body of the county .." ( ie. our Board of Commissioners ). These rushed decisions by our BOC have a great deal to do with our present financial state. Consider the State's '2012 Financial Condition Review' of Coos County: "...a balanced budget will become more difficult..." " Coos County debt is primarily for the county-owned pipeline." They further stated the 2012 commissioners' response: "As a result, the county commissioners indicated they will need to consider liquidating county assets in order to pay expenses"....What the report did not state was Northwest Natural's pipeline payment to Coos County continually equals our payment to them for maintenance. We taxpayers got $27 million, plus interest, in debt. The 2012 commisioners gave Oregon Rescources Corp. similar tax perks based on verbal assurances of hundreds of jobs. Four days after obtaining our transferable lease, they laid off about half of their remaining employees. The list of ill thought out, rushed decisions with our money and land goes on and on. We deserve better. This time the commissioners must, at a minimum, require beneficiaries of our assets use what they have already been given before asking for more. Jaye Bell

From a Lady Watchdog in Fairview:

Dear Editor -- It is with great pleasure that I announce that the "Voice of the Voters" Home Rule Charter for 2012 is being updated to 2014. The Charter, a constitution that creates enforceable contracts between the voters and their elected officials, focuses on the active role of the voter in county politics. The Charter's title is "Voice of the Voters". That is also its philosophy. The Charter is not being rewritten but it is being tweaked, smoothed, expanded in a few areas. And best news, it is open to all the people of Coos County for the entire month of January 2014 to make recommendations on revamping or improvments you'd like the attorney to consider. Yes, I did say that. You can submit new ideas on the Charter any time during January. Find us on the web at ARRRGvoice.com. The 2012 charter is there as well as a link to our e-mail. The second page is the Index. Several of you had great points at our Charter meetings but the Charter was filed at the time and could not be edited. Now it can. So dust off those memories! Send us those ideas. Input can also be mailed to PO Box 826, Coquille, Oregon 97423. Come February 1st, they all go to the attorney. Looking so very much forward to hearing from you. Happiness in 2014! Ronnie Herne ARRRG Secretary 62650 Fairview Road Coquille, Oegon 97423 541-396-4200

Hey Folks,Do you like the idea of the county having a Home Rule charter, but did not like everything that was in the edition that was circulated by ARRRG in 2012. Well, here is your chance to let the authors of the "Voice of the Voters" Home Rule Charter know that you have some concerns and want to make some changes. The group is going to put the final version on the Ballot in 2014, after it is certified by their attorney. The only way to be heard is to be involved and there are four meetings in January. See the ad below.....Rob T.

The Article below is a very good description of Regionalism. I don't normally post the complete article, but it is worth republishing......Rob T. Rob, you may republish. The terms of republication are set out here: http://www.freedomadvocates.org/republication_policy/.

Best to you in your efforts.

Michael Shaw

Regionalism - The Blueprint for Your Serfdom

By Michael Shaw Saturday, 01 December 2012 12:31

Did you know that some of your local elected representatives are enabling a shadow government to evolve? These people promote the reinvention of government through their support of, and appointments to, “regional” boards that act like soviet councils. These councils are funded to implement Agenda 21. Federal tax dollars fuel their appeal, but your city and county representatives do not have to go along.

Gone are the days when government was limited, where individuals were politically acknowledged to possess unalienable rights, and where money was honest. The American political structure has been transformed. This has occurred quietly for more than 50 years without public awareness of the mechanisms underlying the change. At the core of this transformation is the political process of“regionalizing” the country. Political regionalism is the antithesis of representative government. Regionalism restructures or reinvents the operation of American government by destroying traditional political boundaries, such as county lines, and ushers in a transformed system of governance that ultimately abolishes private property and the rights of the individual. Regionalism has infiltrated cities and counties everywhere, affecting transportation, water, farming and land use systems…literally every aspect of your life. Let’s start with an example showing how Agenda 21 programs are brought into your town via “Regionalism.”

Here is an excerpt from the United Nations’ Agenda 21 document concerning transportation planning:

Towns across the country are adopting these transport systems. This is because these systems are imposed upon locales by a regional level of government largely unknown and underestimated. The large scale version of the U.S. adoption of modern regionalism is a federally imposed extra-constitutional layer of government covering the entire nation. According to the website of the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC), NARC “serves as the national voice of regionalism through effective interaction and advocacy with Congress, Federal officials and other agencies and interest groups.” NARC’s agenda includes but is not limited to: transportation, community and economic development, environment, homeland security, "regional preparedness," and community issues…

In addition to NARC, citizens must know about the following regional planning and development agencies that work to implement NARC’s goals: · Council of Governments (COG)

· Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

Council of Governments (COG)

COGs are region-wide associations of local governments –regional bodies, typically defined to serve an area of several counties to address issues such as regional and municipal planning, economic and community development, cartography and Government Information Systems (GIS), hazard mitigation and emergency planning, aging services, water use, pollution control, transit administration, and transportation planning.

COGs run your town and your county from behind the scenes. Federal funds allocated to COGs coordinate the local implementation of Agenda 21.Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) MPOs are federally mandated and, like COGs, are the instruments for restructuring American government. They are setting up an infrastructure for a new economic system based on public private partnership to replace freeenterprise. COGs and MPOs are federalized organizations that break down America’s constitutionally formulated government structure. Their purpose is to control and direct localgovernment from behind the scenes.

Today, they propel the federal injection of the globalist agenda into local government policy and thereby negate the protections afforded by our constitutional system of government. This violation of the American essence and of our natural rights must stop! In the words of Charlotte Iserbyt, former Department of Education official and author of The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America,

Regionalism promotes soviet style councils that develop policy that is then rubber-stamped by elected officials, with no meaningful public oversight. It is an extra level of government that operates outside the provisions of the Constitution, thus advancing globalist objectives whilst insulating most elected officials. Some elected officials are the appointees to COG management authority. In short, American regionalism is theinstrument used to advance the globalist goals of political restructure: · To implement a step-by-step approach to the abolition of private property; · To promote the relocation of people from rural areas to Smart Growth urban centers; · To conscript public private partners and mandate community volunteerism.

A leading example of regional control is emerging in the San Francisco Bay Area. There, the COG is known as ABAG, the Association of Bay Area Governments. ABAG, in association with ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) has launched the “One Bay Area”program. One Bay Areais the local federalized and internationalized plan for the implementation of Agenda 21. This 9 county, 101 city (with a combined population of 7 ½ million people) “regional” plan is designed as a full commitment to the collectivist program of Smart Growth and wild area set asides.

Over the next 20 years 630,000 new residential units are projected by ABAG. ALL residential construction specified by the plan is be multi-family housing. Fully 80% of the planned housing must be within ½ mile of newly designated “transit corridors.” One such transit corridor, El Camino Real, is the major artery from San Jose to San Francisco and is planned to be transformed into a series of government controlled stack‘n pack smart growth developments. Ultimately all private vehicles will be banned from El Camino.

To accomplish this and much more, the federal government has committed a quarter of a trillion dollars to ABAG’s One Bay Areaprogram! Despite widespread opposition as One Bay Area was rolled out this year, the plan is moving forward pursuant to a shortened and rigged approval process – a sign of things to come all across the country. ABAG and One Bay Area evidence that government no longer operates pursuant to Constitutional design. As a result, we all lose government protection and defense of unalienable rights.

Regionalism - The Blueprint for Your Serfdom by Michael Shaw This overview of Regionalism originated as part of a larger national speech tour by Michael Shaw in 19 communities across the nation, entitled "The Ultimate War: Globalism vs. America." Michael Shaw is a leading critic of Sustainable Development, also known as the U.N.’s“Agenda 21,“ which is the Action Plan implementing world government in the 21stcentury.

Hey Folks, Here is another great article dealing with centralization and Agenda 21. I asked permission to post this during the Light fight in Bandon. It was very good resource material…..Rob T.

Hey Brandon,

Your article "Community vs. Collectivism" is very well constructed and outlines the situation accurately. We are fighting New Urbanism and the "Dark Skies" initiative being promoted by the local environmentalist and the fight is reflected in what you describe in your article. Could I repost the article on my website at www.cooscountywatchdog.com Of course with proper recognition to you and www.alt-market.com

From: Jaye BellSubject: PSU report fon CC government‏It is my observation that an 'administrator' is not the real object of the report, but rather is a smoke screen. It appears implementation of regionalization and profiling are the real objectives, both being more permanent.and deadly. For the above reason,. I hope many will see the importance of attending the workshop Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 in the Owen Bldg.

This is our county... if we can keep it.

Jaye

PS You may find the attachment below with an independent review of John M Bryson's work, that PSU lauds so highly, very interesting. ************************************************************************************************************************ On page 5 of the Portland State University Report on how Coos County should operate, the report lauds John M Bryson as the master author. Wanting to know more about this person I went to the internet. The only place I found John M. Bryson listed was under Amazon books. Going to Amazon and locating his book I reviewed the comments. It seems most who had to read or teach his book praised him. Below is listed the author's background, and a comment from a reader who was evidently not associated in either catagory. I enclose this writer's comments because I found the PSU report to be akin to his comments regarding John M. Bryson's book......................................... Jaye

About the Author

John M. Bryson is the McKnight Presidential Professor of Planning and Public Affairs in the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and in 2011 received the Dwight Waldo Award from the American Society for Public Administration for "outstanding contributions to the professional literature of public administration over an extended scholarly career." He consults widely on strategic management with public, nonprofit, and business organizations in the United States and abroad. A Review

This textbook is terribly done. There has been a Harvard project on the same topic that describes the planning process for nonprofits in three stages - Bryson uses eight. There is also a Herrington Bryce textbook that has been praised and that is readily available.

If you are considering this text for your use, I would strongly recommend one of the others; if your professor has assigned this, beg him or her to choose another. This is an overcomplicated repetitive mess of a manifesto on Bryson's self-important and overcomplicated view of what should be a straightforward topic. And it is sheer pain to read.

- Bryson is verbose and overcomplicates everything - He would cite five sources to tell you the sun has risen, just so you would know that he is well-read . . . he never uses 50 words when he can use 500 or better yet 1,000. That makes this a really tough read. Bryson never heard that brevity is the soul of wit.

- This book is incredibly repetitive - he seemingly does not have a lot of faith in his reader, so he says everything five times. His lack of respect for the reader goes so far as to tell you how to set up a room for a meeting, how to cover use a dry erase board and easel paper, and just to be helpful he even includes a template of an oval for you to use in making ovals to post during your meeting. A blank page in the book with a black outline of an oval. I wish I were kidding. Bryson doesn't have a lot of respect for the rest of us.

- He is a terrible writer. His paragraphs are lengthy and disjointed. His constant citing of sources is ludicrous. He is one of those people in the world who can't just say what he has to say, he has to make everyone think he's smarter than they are. But if he were somewhat smarter, he'd have had the insight to make this book actually readable.

- Bryson seems to be a classic example of a consultant with no real-world experience. He barely covers leadership, a pretty important topic, but in addition to his helpful advice on ovals and easel paper, he does discuss the uses of dishonesty and selective disclosure in the planning process, but in such a throw away manner that all you can get is how clever he wants you to think he is.

- He proselytizes incessantly. Bryson spends a lot of effort on his view of how one should achieve transcendence (really! - you can't make this up!) while making numerous and repetitive political statements against conservatives, corporate interests and a variety of others.

I realize that most of you will be buying this book because you have to, as it will have been selected for you by your professor. Beg your professor to choose another text. There are several much better ones out there. Plead. Do whatever it takes. This is the one of the worst books I have ever encountered. It is truly terrible and extremely frustrating.

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About the Author

Rob Taylor is a concerned citizen tired of government waste.The blog is used to post information about events & issues that will have some effect on the people of Coos County.

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